Hulkenberg and Gutierrez at Sauber for 2013

Current Force India driver Nico Hulkenberg and GP2 driver Esteban Gutierrez have been strongly linked to Sauber for next season, in a move which would see current Sauber driver Kamui Kobayashi rendered without a drive for the new season. With Sergio Perez set to join McLaren, this would see Sauber with a completely new driver line-up.

After making his debut back in 2010 for Williams, Nico Hulkenberg returned to the sport this season with Force India after taking a season out of full-time racing as Force India’s reserve driver. Apart from his illustrious pole at the wet/dry Brazilian Grand Prix qualifying session during his debut season, Hulkenberg failed to impress enough to remain a Williams driver was subsequently replaced by Pastor Maldonado.

However, after a season as Force India’s reserve driver last year, Hulkenberg was able to make his return to the sport this season with the Silverstone-based outfit. After a tough opening seven races, in which the German driver could only mange to score 7 World Championship points in relation to team-mate Paul di Resta’s 21, it looked as though Hulkenberg was in for a strenuously tough return to Formula 1.

At the European Grand Prix around the Valencia Street Circuit, Nico Hulkenberg’s season took a change for the better. After qualifying 8th, the 25-year-old German was able to finish a competitive 5th in what turned out to be a thrilling race. Since then, Hulkenberg has competitively finished in the points on several occasions, with a personal best of 4th at the Belgian Grand Prix.

Although no official announcement has been confirmed by Sauber or Nico Hulkenberg, the general belief within the paddock is that the deal has already been struck which will see the German driver switch to Sauber next season. However, the debate over who his team-mate will be next continues to rage on with both Kamui Kobayashi and GP2 star Esteban Gutierrez both linked to the remaining seat with the Hinwil-based outfit.

Esteban Gutierrez was the inaugural GP3 Series Champion back in 2010, after taking five victories throughout the season with the ART Grand Prix team. Last season saw the Mexican driver ‘graduate’ to the GP2 Series with Lotus ART, and take his first victory during the sprint race in support of the European Grand Prix.

Throughout the 2012 season, Esteban Gutierrez was constantly at the sharp end of the pack, finishing competitively in the points on a regular basis. The 21-year-old Mexican driver took three victories throughout the year at Valencia, Silverstone and the Hungaroring which saw him finish 3rd in the Drivers’ Championship behind Luiz Razia and eventual Series Champion Davide Valsecchi. With Mexican telecommunications company Telmex set to remain a sponsor of the Sauber outfit, it is widely regarded that Esteban Gutierrez will finally ‘graduate’ once more up to Formula 1.

The Mexican driver has already driven a Sauber Formula 1 car on numerous occasions over recent years at test sessions, and is still the teams official reserve driver. This connection with Sauber, not to mention his convenient nationality, makes him a perfect fit for the remaining seat alongside Nico Hulkenberg for 2013.

If Nico Hulkenberg does leave Sauber, this will leave a vacancy at Force India alongside Paul di Resta. Several drivers have been rumored a joining the Silverstone-based outfit, including former F1 drivers Adrian Sutil and Jaime Alguersuari. However, these rumored moves would leave Kamui Kobayashi without a drive for 2013, and it is as of yet unknown where the Japanese driver would end up next season, if anywhere.

Follow me on Twitter - @AndyYoungF1